Quick locking furnace base plate



R. J. ANICETTI I 2,431,905

QUICK LOCKING FURNACE BASE PLATE Filed March 16, 1945 I7 I l6 l7 J' WRobe/f J. Am'ceffi Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.QUICKLOCKING'FURNACEBASE PLATE Robert J. Anicetti, Beverly, Mass,assignor to the United States of America asrepresentedlby the AtomicEnergy Commission ,-Appli cat.ion March 16, 1945,- Serial No. 583129 3Claims. .1

This invention relates to improvements in bottom closures forreceptacles such as furnaces, crucibles and the like, and moreparticularly :to an improved means for removablysecuring abottom closureto a receptacle of the class described.

In receptacles of the type herein described, it is highly desirable tofill the receptacle from the to? and to have the bottom removable tofacilitate cleaning of the receptacle. The invention is shown applied toa furnace or crucible of cylindrical construction and an importantobject of the present invention is the provision of an improved bottomconstruction which may be applied to existing furnace structures.

A further object of the present invention is the pro-vision of a bottomclosure for furnaces and crucibles comprising a plate adapted tocooperate with raceways secured to the lower ends of a cylindrical wallmember for ready assembly and disassembly.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of abottom closure for furnaces and crucibles which is relatively simple inconstruction, rugged and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the lower end of a furnace showing myimproved closure structure applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing certain details of theimproved bottom construction;

Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the raceways; and

Fig, 5 is a top View of the same.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration only is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 designates acylindrical furnace or crucible to which the present invention isapplied. The furnace or crucible comprises inner and outer cylindricalwall memhers I l and I2 and to these there is welded a bottom annularflange l3 as indicated at M and 15.

A plurality of raceways l6 are spaced at equal intervalscircumferentially about the periphery of the flange member [3, andsecured thereto as hereinafter described. In the present embodiment ofthe invention four such raceways are provided but it is clear that anynumber may be used dependin On the F5123 the :iurnace or crucib-le. Eachraceway lficomprises; rectans l y-s ap :m mb benttoiconformt nth ad sahe :na e base :flanse .3- uita l :Qpenings -11 are provided in theraceways l6 and pins It may be used to properly position the racewaysfor welding the same to the base flange l3. Each raceway i6 is providedwith a laterally extending slot or runway I!) having its lower edgesloping upwardly in an inward direction.

Referring to Fig. 2, the bottom structure comprises a double walledmember consisting of an upper plate 20 and a lower plate 2| welded tosaid upper plate. If desired, a cooling liquid may be provided in thespace between the two plates. A plurality of threaded bolts 22 hereinshown as four and corresponding to the number of raceways, are threadedinto the periphery of the plate member 20 and are equidistantly spacedaround the circumference of the bottom closure. A groove 23 is providedon the upper surface of the plate member 20 to receive a gasket 24.

To apply the bottom closure, it is placed between the raceways I6 withthe bolts 22 facing the slots l9. A slight turn in a clockwise directionserves to engage the bolts 22 within the runways I9 and continuedrotation of the bottom closure causes it to be firmly positioned againstthe base flange [3 in which position it may be secured by tightening thebolts 22. The sealing gasket 24 provides a proper seal between the upperplate 20 and the flange 13. To remove the closure, the bolts 22 may beloosened and then lightly tapped to free the closure, which then can berotated easily so as to clear the raceways l6 and drop onto a stacker orother support (not shown).

From the above description, it is believed that the construction of thedevice will be clear to those skilled in the art and the advantagesthereof readily apparent. It is understood, however, that I do notconfine myself to the structural details illustrated, and that certainchanges can be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionwithin the limitations of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A furnace including, in combination, a cylindrical wall, an annularflange secured to an end of said wall, a plurality of depending racewaysfastened at spaced intervals around the outer periphery of the annularflange, an inclined slot extending from a side of each of said raceways,a disk shaped closure member, an annular groove in said member, adeformable gasket carried in said roove adapted to engage the annularflange, a plurality of bolts spaced about the periphery of the closuremember and adapted to secure the closure member to said dependingraceways and to provide a tight fit between said annular flange and saidgasket.

2. A furnace including, in combination, a, cylindrical wall, an annularflange secured to an end of said wall, a plurality of depending racewaysfastened at spaced intervals around the outer Deriphery of the annularflange, an inclined slot ex-.

tending from a, side of each of said raceways, said slots converging ata constant rate inwardly from the sides of said raceways, a disk shapedclosure member, an annular groove in said member, a, deformable gasketin said groove adapted to engage the annular flange, a plurality ofbolts spaced about the periphery of the closure member and adapted tosecure the closure member to. said depending raceways and to provide atight flt between said annular flange and said gasket.

3. A furnace including, in combination a double cylindrical wall adaptedto contain a fluid coolant therebetween, an annular flange secured to anend of said double wall and forming a fluid tight joint about theperiphery of the closure member and' adapted to secure the closuremember to said depending raceways and to provide a tight fit betweensaidannular flange and said gasket.

1 ROBERT J. ANICETTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,919,213 Emens July 25, 19331,477,819 Godley Dec. 18, 1923

